GOP Happy to Tell Ward 1 About Graham Office Raid

That didn't take long.

The D.C. Republican Committee sent a robo call to about 10,000 Ward 1 residents Friday afternoon seeking to implicate Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) in the legal controversy swirling around his chief-of-staff, Ted G. Loza.

Loza was arrested Thursday morning on bribery charges after he allegedly accepted a $1,500 bribe from someone who was seeking to influence pending taxicab legislation. Graham has not been charged, and strongly denies any wrongdoing,

But on the automated call to Ward 1 voters, a woman says she is "disappointed" that Graham's office "was raided by authorities and his chief of staff was arrested for bribery." The caller also referred to a summer intern in Graham's office who was arrested this summer, accused of shooting two people at the Columbia Heights Metro.

"Under Graham's failed leadership, the DC Council is getting worse not better," the caller stated. "We need anyone but Graham in 2010."

I was among those Ward One residents who received the robo call from the D.C. Republican Committee. I don't know whom they expect to persuade to vote GOP as a result of this sad business, but I will not be one of them. I thought the phone call unseemly beyond belief. As with, hopefully, other Ward One voters, I will wait to see who runs before I make a determination who will get my vote in any future election for council member -- but it'll be a cold day in hell before I vote for a Republican, particularly given the District GOP party's slavish support of Bush and his disastrous administration -- unless, perhaps, Carol Schwartz moves to the neighborhood and decides to make a go for it. (Right. Not likely.) As it stands now, the GOP can go take a flying leap. They're just too desperate, too boorish, and just plain too TACKY!

Word on the street is, Jim Graham is just as corrupt as they get; taking bribes from contstuction companies for Ward 1 developments. Investigations will show the truth.. and this is a Columbia Heights Democrat speaking.